The charge is false. I totally deny it.
In deed or thought I never dealt so vilely.
If any man accuses me of lying,
My sword and I are ready to defy him!”
970 The villain spoke with confidence, relying
Upon his skill and on his clan’s reprisals.
Duke Naimon saw and heard his power silence
The courtiers, and heartily despised him.
He said to Charles: “Release him now, Your Highness,
Then take advice from knights you can rely on!
The fiend deserves at least to face a trial!
If out of fear you do not even try him,
You don’t deserve a monarch’s crown or title.”
25. How Charlemagne took counsel
THE EMPEROR did not delay at all,
But brought to court his barons and his lords,
980 The best he had, a hundred knights and more.
Inside his hall, beneath its soaring vaults,
He gathered them – regret it or rejoice!
“My lords,” he cried, “I won’t conceal my thoughts:
A plot’s been laid by one who’s played me false.
In shame it’s claimed my wife Queen Blancheflor,
And Aubri’s life – which fills me with remorse.
Advise me now, and never fear the force
Of any man’s revenge for speaking forth.”
990 But when his men had heard the case and cause,
Be damned if one would even raise his voice:
They all deferred before Macaire in court –
So much they feared his power and support.
26. How Duke Naimon spoke
DUKE NAIMON STOOD – the only one who did so:
“My lord,” he said, “unlike the rest within here,
I shall not keep my true opinion hidden.
I know full well why none of them is willing
To take the floor: they fear the wrath they’d kindle
In Lord Macaire and his revengeful kindred:
1000 I’ll tell you what each one of them is thinking:
‘The Mayence clan’s a powerful and big one:
In Germany their allies have no limit.
No man alive in any Christian kingdom
Would fight by choice with such a host of villains!’
But I believe injustice to be wicked,
And stand prepared to give a firm opinion:
None here or hence shall censure my commitment!
Arrest Macaire, on treachery’s suspicion!
Remove his furs and in his gown equip him
1010 With just a rod, three feet in length; and bring him
Inside the lists set up before this building.
Bring there Macaire, and then let loose within it
Young Aubri’s hound that saw its master’s killing,
And by its hate for Lord Macaire has striven,
It seems to me, to indicate who did it!
If Lord Macaire defeats the dog, acquit him.
But if the hound defeats him or submits him,
He should at once be recognised as guilty,
And put to death like any wicked brigand.”
1020 When Charles’s men assembled there had listened
To Naimon’s speech, they each approved its wisdom,
And all agreed to back its imposition.
He sought their word and no one failed to give it.
The King himself was pleased with the decision,
As were indeed the men Macaire had with him:
They didn’t think, not even for a minute,
That any hound could win against their kinsman.
27. How Macaire fought against the hound
THE MEN MACAIRE had with him of his house
Rejoiced to hear Duke Naimon’s words announced.
1030 They thought as one: they never had a doubt
Their man would win against Sir Aubri’s hound.
The Emperor, King Charlemagne, allowed
No time to pass ere this was carried out.
Before the keep, upon a square of ground,
A palisade was raised upon a mound
Of beaten earth, enclosing it all round.
A ban was cried: if any man was found
Inside the lists, he would be hung, without
The least reprieve, like any thieving lout.
1040 But all would watch – without a stir or sound.
The King was keen to end the matter now.
They seized Macaire and then they stripped him down
Till he was dressed in just an under-gown.
They placed a rod, three feet from base to crown,
Within his hand, but that was all allowed
For his defence, to parry with or pound.
When this was done they led the villain out,
And then the dog – whoever grins or growls!
When both were in the judgement place the hound
1050 Beheld Macaire and charged him with a bound!
28. How the hound charged Macaire
WHEN AUBRI’S HOUND beheld Macaire ahead,
It bared its teeth and bit him as it leapt!
It sank its fangs well in the wicked wretch,
Who raised his pole and in his turn commenced
To flay the beast’s whole body, right and left.
The hound held on, to tear and pare more flesh.
The fight was like no other witnessed yet,
And everyone who lived in Paris went
At once to watch the judgement God would send.
1060 With one accord they roared aloud and said:
“St Mary, lend the righteous one your help!
Reveal the truth today of Aubri’s death.
For Aubri’s sake, and ours, display your strength!”
The fight was like no other seen of men,
And fiercer far than any, now or then!
When those Macaire had with him there beheld
How close it was, they said: “We were misled!
Are we to see a dog defeat our geste?”
When this was said one clansman climbed the fence
1070 And would have run to help his kinsman, when
The cry went up to place him in arrest
And hang him high where he had dared to tread!
On hearing this, he turned to flee instead!
29. How the duel claimed its first victim
THE CLANSMAN FLED – in truth, he sped away!
But when he did, King Charlemagne proclaimed
That anyone who brought him back would gain
A thousand pounds to pay him for his pains.
When news of this was cried through every lane,
A villager, who’d come to town that day
1080 To buy some shoes, was quick to stake his claim:
He saw the rogue run right across a square,
And with his staff of apple-wood he chased
Straight after him and bailed him up, like hay!
He packed him back, like that, to Charlemagne,
And never earned a better harvest’s wage:
The King himself approved the crop and paid
A thousand pounds without the least delay.
At Charles’s word the rogue was bound and haled
Right back to where he’d made his life’s mistake:
1090 And there they strung and hung him straightaway,
Then flung his corpse as fodder for the flames!
His clansmen felt a sorrow mixed with hate,
But didn’t dare to show it on their face.
T
he duel went on, its cruelty too great
For anyone to rightfully relate.
It raged all day until the evening came,
And then again upon the following day.
30. How the duel was done and won
THE FIGHT WAS FIERCE– as fierce as it was long!
No man alive saw enmity so strong!
1100 The greyhound leapt, its fangs securely locked
Upon Macaire, who rained his heavy rod
Upon its head that bled and battled on.
The clan Maience lamented in its wrath:
How willingly they would have brought a stop
To what they saw with ransom-gold or -stock,
But Charles, he swore by God and good St John,
That all the gold they had, or ever was,
Would never save Macaire, if there he lost,
From death by fire or in the hangman’s knot,
1110 Whichever fate his barons might allot.
So, on they fought, in deadly combat locked.
The hound attacked so fiercely and so long
That in the end Macaire’e resistance dropped –
His shoulders drooped, his strength of limb was gone.
In vicious haste the greyhound leapt upon
And bit his face so hard it carved right off
The villain’s cheek and crunched the bone beyond.
His jowl released a howl of pain aloft:
“Where are you all, my clansmen fair and fond,
1120 When now I need your help against a dog?”
The King replied: “I’ve sent your kinsmen off!
You will regret you ever saw or wronged
My wife, and left young Aubri’s corpse to rot!”
The dog, meanwhile, increased the gain he’d got:
With all its rage it lunged again and knocked
Its foe to ground – so firmly did it lock
Its noble jaws he couldn’t move a jot!
At this, Macaire cried mercy there and sobbed:
“Ah, noble King, almighty Emperor,
1130 Don’t let me die so awfully, by God!
Bring forth a priest! Release me from this dog
And I’ll confess to all my wicked plot.”
The King rejoiced, on hearing this response,
And summoned forth the worthy Abbot from
Great Saint-Denis, who gladly came anon.
31. How the Abbot spoke to Macaire
THE EMPEROR did not delay or dither:
From Saint-Denis he called the Abbot thither
Who came anon, with rapid step and willing.
Charles led him out between the line of pickets,
1140 Where Lord Macaire was still restrained so grimly
He couldn’t move a muscle, toe or finger.
His voice was low – so wounded he and winded –
The Abbot knelt beside him there to listen
And ascertain if it was his decision
To tell the truth, at last, with naught omitted.
“Beware, Macaire! The Queen herself has given
The truth to me, when she besought forgiveness!”
“The fault is mine,” the swine Macaire admitted:
“Attend my sins and help me seek remission,
1150 For I know well my life on earth has finished –
My wealthy clan, I know, can help me little.”
“You speak the truth, at last, in my opinion,”
The Abbot said: “You truly have been wicked.
Yet I believe that if you show contrition
And own to all, the King will show you pity,
Because your rank is high within his kingdom,
And I myself shall urge him not to kill you.
But I insist that when you bear true witness
To what’s occurred, the Monarch must be with us,
1160 Duke Naimon too, with other Peers and bishops.
If they are not, you will not be forgiven,
Nor shall this hound release you for a instant –
For God has wrought His wondrous purpose with it,
By letting it survive you and submit you!
He willed it so to show beyond suspicion,
Before the world, the truth of who was guilty!”
Macaire replied: “I’ll gladly do your bidding.”
The Abbot thus invited Charles to listen,
Duke Naimon too, that paragon of wisdom,
1170 And many more, of high and low condition,
As Lord Macaire prepared to own his mischief.
Attend, my lords, the way the traitor did it –
Alas, I say, that some are born so wicked!
The Abbot said: “Begin at the beginning,
And speak the truth, with nothing false or hidden,
For I know all about this sorry business.
Queen Blancheflor, before my lord dismissed her,
Revealed to me your part from start to finish.”
Macaire replied: “I shall not try to trick you.
1180 Call off this hound, I beg you, as a Christian!”
The King replied: “It knows your sins committed,
And will remain until their stain is lifted!”
So Lord Macaire described in full, as bidden,
The sorry path of treachery and killing
His lust had laid, and he himself had ridden.
32. How Macaire made confession
AND SO MACAIRE revealed his course of crime:
How first he’d gone to see the Queen inside
The budding grove, and then how he had tried
To woo her heart and speak of his desire –
1190 Which she had spurned, to his offended pride.
And then he told how with his gold he’d hired
The cunning dwarf, at first, to take his side
In speech with Blancheflor, but then to hide
Inside her room, then later on to climb
Inside her bed, for so they had designed
To ruin her and be revenged alike.
How then he’d tossed the midget in the fire
To stop their plot from coming hence to light.
He then confessed that when he saw her ride
1200 Away from court with Aubri at her side,
It angered him that he’d not seen her die,
And so, well-armed and clad in iron to fight,
He’d ridden forth in hot pursuit to find
The Queen again and do what he desired.
When Aubri’d tried to stop him he described
How, with his sword, he’d taken Aubri’s life.
He didn’t know, he said, what had transpired
With Blancheflor, who’d fled when he arrived.
“She wasn’t there to see or find,” he cried:
1210 “She ran inside a forest deep and wide,
And I returned, not caring to abide:
The deed I’d done weighed sorely on my mind.
God damn my soul if it was otherwise.”
“You’ve stung me so, I swear,” the King replied,
“By what you’ve done to my beloved wife,
That I shall wear no more this crown of mine,
Nor eat or drink a thing again till I
Have seen you pay your treason’s proper price!
Naimon!” he cried, “This traitor has defiled
1220 My noble wife by his deceitful lies.
He’s also slain a youth we all admired.
Your wisdom’s truth shall be my only guide.”
The duke replied: “Then this is my advice:
First, drag the rogue through Paris, tied
behind
The biggest steed and fastest you can find.
Then burn what’s left upon a raging fire!
If any man of Mayence clan decries
This judgement made, then let him share the plight!”
Each person cried: “These words are good and wise.”
1230 The dog still gripped the villain’s throat so tight
He couldn’t move a muscle, left or right.
But when the King, for love of God on High,
Besought the dog, in gentle tones and mild,
To let him go, the dog at once complied.
Like any man of understanding mind
The dog obeyed and did as Charles required.
Because the dog had done its task assigned,
It let him go – and ere the priest retired,
He shrove Macaire and prayed for him to Christ.
33. How Macaire was punished
1240 ATTEND, MY LORDS, what Charlemagne did next,
On the advice that Naimon’s wisdom lent.
Macaire was seized immediately and then
Was dragged behind a steed of nimble strength
Around the town and through it east to west.
On foot and horse, behind the courser, swept
The Paris crowd, small children, youths and men,
Who hurled abuse upon all sides and said,
Each one of them: “This villain’s due for death!
He planned the shame of Blancheflor and left
1250 Sir Aubri dead, who was indeed the best
Young knight in town for honour and prowess!”
They ragged him thus and dragged him all the length
Of Paris, then upon the square again.
And there they lit a mighty fire to spend
What little wealth the villain’s health had left!
His kinsmen there stood helpless to the end,
And when that came, they buried what was left,
Their hearts aglow with anger and distress.
Now let us leave Macaire to burn in hell,
1260 Where sinners reap the evil seed they spread!
Brave Charlemagne remained in Paris, vexed
Most sorely for the fate his wife had met,
And for the lad he’d loved so long and well –
And for Macaire: his man, when all was said.
But let us turn to Blancheflor’s distress.
When she had seen the blow Macaire had dealt
To Aubri, which had thrown the youngster dead,
The Queen had fled inside the forest’s depths.
What misery she’d had to suffer then –
1270 And she with child, a prince that Charles had bred.
But on she’d gone, and struggled every step,
Heroines of the French Epic Page 39